Awami Muslim League chief and former federal interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has expressed doubts about the success of the ongoing political dialogue, though he hoped for a positive outcome.

Speaking to the media outside the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, Rashid stated that successful talks could inspire hope in the nation.

However, he warned against turning the process into a joke. He emphasised that prisons were overcrowded, and the poor were suffering.

He called for negotiations to result in the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission.

Rashid reiterated his demand for a general amnesty for political detainees, noting that previous governments issued pardons in the past.

He warned that the current administration was under international pressure and risked further economic collapse. “The government lacks public support, and significant decisions must be made in the coming weeks,” he emphasised.

The former minister mentioned the numerous cases filed against him, stating that they have left him weary of life.

He advised the government to focus on street vendors rather than looking at the stock market.

The Peshawar High Court has demanded a response from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the delay in conducting Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed heard the case filed by PTI leader Azam Swati, challenging the non-holding of Senate elections in the province.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer stated that a request had been submitted to conduct the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ECP’s counsel informed the court that consultations on the matter were still ongoing following a December 10 meeting. He further told that a revision petition on reserved seats was pending in the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim granted the ECP two weeks to submit their response. However, when the ECP’s counsel requested additional time, the court expressed reluctance to allow indefinite delays.

The court emphasised the importance of adhering to a timeline and set January 16 as the deadline for the ECP’s reply, adjourning the hearing until then.

The Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) has organised a seminar titled “Understanding the Impact of Media: Interpreting Information and Global Perspectives on Society.”

This event brought together scholars, media experts, and public policy professionals to discuss how media shapes societal concepts and political landscapes.

The seminar was moderated by Dr Shabana Fayyaz, Associate Professor at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. Key speakers included former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Dr Nazir Hussain, Air Marshal (retired) Farhat Hussain, former federal minister Murtaza Solangi, media expert Dr Farhan Rao, and investigative journalist Fakhar Kakakhel.

In her opening remarks, IICR Executive Director and founder, Sabah Aslam, emphasised the crucial link between media, public perceptions, and societal outcomes. She highlighted the importance of promoting media literacy, encouraging critical thinking, and especially urging the youth to use media responsibly.

The seminar aimed to assess the role of media in shaping narratives, eliminating misinformation, and promoting cultural understanding.

Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed discussed the role of the EU DisinfoLab in exposing India’s global propaganda campaign, citing examples such as ANI and the Srivastava Group. He highlighted the influence of Western media in historical and contemporary events like the 1953 Iranian revolution and the Iraq war. Commenting on the changing dynamics of media during the 2024 US elections, he stressed the need for a coordinated strategy to address media challenges in Pakistan.

Experienced journalist Murtaza Solangi discussed the fundamental principles of journalism and advocated for the public’s right to know. He identified corporate influence, market forces, and non-state actors as major challenges to media freedom and underscored the global pandemic of misinformation, stressing the importance of digital literacy to combat it.

Investigative journalist Fakhar Kakakhel spoke about the spread of “keyboard warriors” and Western-backed misinformation, which has created barriers to Pakistan’s development, particularly regarding CPEC. He called for better mechanisms to address digital chaos caused by censorship and misinformation.

Media expert Dr Farhan Rao highlighted the dangers of political hate speech, which deepens societal and cultural divides, and advocated for a multidisciplinary approach to tackling media-related challenges. He also emphasized the importance of promoting media literacy.

In his keynote address, Air Marshal (Retired) Farhat Hussain stressed the need to exploit India’s vulnerabilities, which are often magnified by Indian media. He underscored the importance of equipping individuals with critical thinking skills to distinguish between facts and propaganda, further stating the need to rationalize media regulations as media influence transcends national borders.

Dr Nazir Hussain, in his concluding remarks, discussed the growing role of social media, noting that due to the limited information provided by mainstream media, social media is gaining more attention. He attributed this trend to the corporate ownership of media houses.